Sky News
@skynews·9.3M subscribers·76.1K videos
Some want this grooming gang leader to be deported. He can't be. This Is Why.
Posted
July 2, 2026
Views
654
Likes
8
Engagement
1.22%
July 2, 2026
654
8
1.22%
Every word spoken in this episode is indexed. Type any phrase to jump straight to the moment it was said.
Type any word or phrase that may have been spoken. Click a result to seek the player to that exact moment.
Try a name, a topic, or a quoted line
See what was published immediately before and after this episode.
22:08Now PlayingWarning: this episode contains references to grooming gangs, rape, sexual abuse and coercive control.
He’s a convicted child rapist who’s been stripped of his British citizenship. But the ringleader of a notorious Rochdale grooming gang – released from jail this week – cannot be removed from the UK.
Shabir Ahmed was sentenced in 2012 for multiple counts of rape and sexual offences against girls as young as 12. But provisions in the Immigration Act 1971 mean he is safe from deportation.
Politicians from all parties – including prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham – are calling on the Home Office to take action. But what legally can be done? And how does the law actually work?
Niall is joined by lawyer, journalist and legal affairs commentator Joshua Rozenberg.
If you have been affected by any of the issues Joshua and Niall discussed you can call The Samaritans, free of charge, on 116 123.
#ukpolitics #shabirahmed #groominggangs #rochdale
Have you got something you want the team to look into? Email the show – why@sky.uk
Follow This is Why, available for free here
Follow Niall on Instagram
Follow Niall on X
Find out how to subscribe to our members club, Sky News Insider
Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
For more content go to and download our appsApple Android
To enquire about licensing Sky News content, you can find more information here
Sentinel Indexing in Progress
Metadata and chapters are available. Claim extraction for this episode is pending.
All video content is delivered via YouTube embedded players in accordance with the YouTube Terms of Service. Sentinel provides research tools that promote discovery and accountability across political media.
